To use dbgtool.py you need to pass it the MS-DOS executable binary file, and optionally the output debug.exe script file name. Example: $ python ./dbgtool.py -i ./nc.exe -o nc.scr This will create a ASCII text file with CRLF line terminators called nc.scr. Such file can then be converted to its original portable executable with the Windows native debug.exe, that is installed by default in all Windows systems: > debug.exe < nc.scr To be able to execute it on Windows you have to rename it to end with '.com' or '.exe': > ren nc_exe nc.exe